My phone chirps with a FaceTime call from Giselle.
It’s enough to give me butterflies.
I’ve had a crush on my best friend forever—
I’m just waiting for the perfect moment to confess my true feelings.
As soon as I see the sadness in her face, though…
I know this isn’t that moment.
Willow
Oh no. What is it?
Giselle
It’s about the beach house.
Giselle
The owner canceled our reservation.
Giselle
I’ll Venmo you back your half of the deposit, okay?
Willow
Let’s just put it toward a different rental.
I’m already opening a browser window to search for other options…
But Giselle shakes her head.
Giselle
Maybe we should wait until next summer.
Giselle
Money’s kind of tight right now, and—
Willow
But it’s already been a whole year since we saw each other!
A whole year since my best friend moved away…
Before I could find the courage to tell her how I felt.
I thought I’d have a chance on our trip.
Giselle blinks away tears.
The sight makes my heart ache.
Giselle
It’s for the best.
There has to be a way to fix this.
I call the number on our reservation confirmation.
Willow
Hi, this is Willow Denning.
Willow
I just learned that you canceled our July reservation.
Willow
I was wondering why…
Willow
And if there was any way you could reconsider?
The owner’s tone is confused.
Owner
I didn’t cancel anything.
Owner
That reservation was canceled by Giselle Alvarez.
I’m silent for a few moments.
Willow
That can’t be right. Are you sure?
Owner
Yes. If there’s any confusion…
Owner
You’ll have to take it up with Ms. Alvarez.
I hang up and sit in silence.
Giselle cancelled our trip?
I need help processing this…
So I FaceTime our mutual friend, Randy.
He answers with a big grin…
But it fades when he sees my expression.
Willow
Remember the trip that Giselle and I were planning?
His brow creases with concern.
Randy
Did you say “were?”
Willow
Yeah. Giselle canceled it.
Willow
And then she lied about it.
Randy
But you had all those plans!
Randy
You were finally going to tell her how you feel!
Randy
That whole “perfect moment” thing you kept talking about!
Willow
Well, that’s not happening now.
Randy
But why would she cancel your trip?
Willow
I was hoping she’d said something to you about it.
Randy
I haven’t heard a thing.
I cringe as a terrible thought occurs to me.
Willow
Maybe she figured out that I have feelings for her…
Willow
And she didn’t want to deal with that.
Randy
Girl. I’m sure that’s not it.
Randy
You could just TELL her.
Randy
You don’t need to wait for some magical moment.
Willow
That’s not the kind of thing you dump on someone over FaceTime.
Randy
I know it’s not ideal, but…
Willow
Admitting my feelings means risking my friendship with Giselle.
Willow
If I’m going to do that…
Willow
I have to do it right.
Willow
I need the perfect moment.
Randy
And if that moment never comes?
I don’t have an answer for him.
Randy
Maybe Giselle has something personal going on.
Randy
Something that has nothing to do with you.
Randy
Do you want me to talk to her?
But he kind of has a big mouth.
Willow
Please don’t tell her about any of this.
Randy
I’ll just check in and see how she’s doing.
Against my better judgment, I nod.
Randy
Okay. I’m off to do a little FaceTime reconnaissance.
Randy
I’ll let you know what I find out.
Willow
And remember, you DON’T KNOW about the cancellation.
Randy smirks at me and ends the call.
An hour later Randy texts me.
But it sends panic racing through my veins.
Randy
You’re gonna kill me 😬 ❤️
What did he say to Giselle?
Did he tell her about my crush??
I hang up without leaving a message.
I don’t know what to say.
I pace back and forth in my bedroom, trying to think…
Willow
Why did I let you get involved??
Blinking back tears, I call Giselle again.
She still doesn’t answer…
But this time, I leave a message.
Willow
Look, whatever Randy told you…
Willow
You know how he is.
Willow
He was just messing around.
It hurt SO MUCH to say that.
But if I can convince Giselle that Randy was joking…
Maybe I can salvage our friendship.
I groan and flop facedown on my bed…
Burying my face in the pillows.
That’s when my phone chirps with an incoming FaceTime call.
I wipe my tears away, paste on a smile, and answer.
I try to keep my voice from wavering.
Willow
Hey, so Randy was kidding around and—
Giselle
You don’t have a crush on me?
That’s when I notice that Giselle’s been crying, too.
Rats. Lying is only going to make this whole mess even worse.
I take a deep, shuddering breath.
Willow
I have a HUGE crush on you.
Willow
I was going to tell you at the beach house.
Willow
I wanted to wait for the perfect moment.
Willow
Now you’re probably all weirded out and—
Willow
Because I like you THAT way.
Even now, when I’m so afraid and upset…
The sound of her laugh gives me butterflies.
Giselle
I have a crush on you too, Willow.
Giselle
I’ve missed you SO MUCH this year.
Giselle
I wanted to tell you this summer.
Giselle
I knew once I finally saw you in person again…
Giselle
I’d HAVE to tell you.
Giselle
But then I got scared…
Giselle
So I made up that story about the trip getting canceled.
Giselle
I couldn’t risk ruining our friendship.
I stare open-mouthed at her.
Giselle
Please say something.
Willow
This is it, isn’t it?
Giselle
What do you mean?
Willow
I was waiting for that perfect moment.
Willow
I thought it needed palm trees and sand and an ocean…
Willow
THIS is our perfect moment.
I kiss my fingertip and touch it to the screen.
Willow
I’ll kiss you in person.
Giselle
I know it’ll be perfect.
